A Second Awakening (Linked Universe AU)

The Gallery

After recovering from his phone call Legend decided that it was probably time for him to make his way down to this gallery to help Ravio with his paintings...apparently the show tonight was going to be an especially big deal. He let his instincts guide him to a small decorative dish by the front door from which he procured a set of keys with a pink plastic and faux fur 'lucky rabbit foot' keychain and from there outside to a strange but sleek, low-set vehicle in the brightest cherry red he'd ever seen. It gleamed in the early morning light, and he felt a sudden swell of masculine pride in his chest at the sight of it.

"Well....Hello there..." He cooed at the machine as he lovingly ran a hand over its caramel-colored canvas roof before stooping and climbing inside. With a turn of the keys and the press of a button the roof of the vehicle...The 'car'... HIS car... slid back, allowing the sun to warm him once again. The little red sports car purred beneath him, and he let out a quiet whoop of joy at the feeling. He turned on the radio and backed down the drive with an apparently practiced hand. Somewhere inside of him, this all felt so natural... he was just letting that part take the reins. He sped down the road, blaring Tom Petty and feeling the wind in his hair.

Glorious.

Once he arrived at the Gallery he was pleased to see that he had his own parking space right in front. He pulled right into it and got out, still high off of the exhilarating ride, and savored the little chirp from his car as he locked her.

"Oh, don't worry! I'll be back for you..." He purred as he patted her hood in a small farewell and strode into the elegant polished double doors of the Gallery. The cool air conditioning hit him immediately and he reveled in the slight chill.

"There he is!" Ravio's high clear voice rang out in joy as he strode across the polished marble floor and wrapped Legend in a big bear hug. The man wore a purple and gold pinstriped blazer, gold chain necklace, blue tee-shirt, and black skinny-fit trousers over a pair of ostentatious red snakeskin boots. He lifted the hero off his feet in a twirl and set him down. "The man, the myth...the Legend!"

"Hello, Link." A cool feminine voice came from behind him, and he turned to see none other than Hilda, Princess of Lorule (or...was she?) in a sharp white suit dress with flame-red pointed heels. She came up and shook his hand once Ravio set him down. "It's good to see you. The new works are absolutely phenomenal..."

Legend opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted.

"Oh! Thank goodness!" A smaller blonde man in a black turtleneck and multi-color stitched wool beret pushed his way through to stand in front of Legend. His shoulder-length hair swung as he made a wide gesture at the room before them. "I need your help. The flow here is all wrong with these ones and the lighting in the back section is a Mess! We only have a few hours before-"

"SMITHY!" Legend practically shouted as he ran up to the smaller man and gave him a fierce hug.

"Off! Off! OFF!" The indignant man tried to squeeze out of Legend's grasp. "What is With you? Put me down!"

Legend did as he was asked and stepped back feeling a little foolish. "I...uh... Sorry." He mumbled

"Hmph." Four gruffed as he fixed his beret. "...Anyways, as I was saying. We need to move the bigger pieces to-

Ravio clapped the man hard on the shoulder. "What shorty here is trying to say is; Thanks for coming to help with the setup." He beamed at Legend, and four nodded as he peeled Ravio's hand from his shoulder with a grimace.

"Yes.. That. Especially the 'dual castle' one. No matter how I light it either the one above looks too dark or the Other castle in its reflection does. It's a vexing piece. I honestly don't know how you created that effect." He made a face up at legend.